An investigation of 2,5-di-tertbutyl-1,4-bis(methoxyethoxy)benzene in ether-based electrolytes

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Electrochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.05.167· OSTI ID:1412694

Su, Liang; Ferrandon, Magali; Barton, John L.; de la Rosa, Noel Upia; Vaughey, John T.; Brushett, Fikile R.

The identification and development of conductive electrolytes with high concentrations of redox active species is key to realizing energy-dense nonaqueous flow batteries. Herein, we explore the use of ether solvents (1,3-dioxolane (DOL), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME), and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME)) as the basis for redox electrolytes containing a lithium ion supporting salt (LiBF4 or LiTFSI) and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene (DBBB) as an active material. An automated high-throughput platform is employed to screen various electrolyte compositions by measuring solution conductivity and solute solubility as a function of solvent and salt type, component concentration, and temperature. Subsequently, the electrochemical and transport properties of select redox electrolytes are characterized by cyclic voltammetry using glassy carbon disk electrodes and by linear sweep voltammetry using carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes. In general, improvements in electrolyte conductivity and solute solubility are observed with ether-based formulations as compared to previously reported propylene carbonate (PC)-based formulations. In particular, the addition of DOL to a DME-based electrolyte increases the conductivity and decreases the temperature for solubilization at high LiTFSI and DBBB concentrations. The redox behavior of DBBB remains consistent across the range of concentrations tested while the diffusion coefficient scales with changes in solution viscosity.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) - Office of Vehicle Technology
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1412694
• Journal Information: Electrochimica Acta, Journal Name: Electrochimica Acta Journal Issue: C Vol. 246; ISSN 0013-4686
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
DBBB
ether-based electrolyte
high-throughput screening
nonaqueous redox flow battery
redox active organic molecules